Apparatus for handling racks.



F. J. LOVERJNG.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RACKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l. 1918.

1,Q88,62& Patented Den.24,1918- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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, F. J. LOVERING.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RACKS.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 1. I918.

1,28,628, Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l l I WITNESSES 0 FRANK J. LOVERING, 0F OCTAVIA, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed Februtry 1, 1918. Serial No. 214,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. Lovnnrnc, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Octavia, in the county of Butler and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in apparatus for handling racks, and has for its object to provide a device of the character specified especially adapted for placing and removing hay racks and wagon bodies from the running gear of a wagon, wherein a wheel supported standard is provided, having means for lifting the rack or body one end at a time and placing it on the wagon, the device having means for locking the wheel from rotation during the lifting of the rack or body.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a rack, with the device in place ready to lift one end of the same;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the end of the rack lifted and ready to be placed upon the wagon;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the rack, with the device in place ready to lift;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lower end of the standard and wheel;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the standard showing the reel;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the standard looking from the upper end;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a double hook adapted for lifting a wagon body.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a standard 1 is provided, of wood or like material, of suitable cross section, and a wheel 2 is connected with the lower end of the standard, the connection being made by a pair of plates 3, which are arranged on opposite sides of the lower end of the standard and bolted thereto, as indicated at 1, and the wheel is .journaled between the plates.

The axle 5 of the wheel is a bolt which is passed through pairs of registering openings 6 in the plates, and is engaged by a nut 7 to rotatably connect the wheel to the plates. The wheel may be adjusted vertically with respect to the standard by engaging the bolt 5 with different openings of the series 6, to increase or decrease the aggregate length of the standard. During the actual lifting of the rack or body the wheel may be locked from rotative movement by means of a pin 8 which is adapted to be passed through a pair of registering openings 6 between the spokes, as shown in Fig. 1, and this pin is preferably connected to one of the plates by a flexible connection, to prevent loss or displacement of the pin.

At its upper end the standard 1 has a transverse slot or opening, and in this slot or opening is journaled a pulley 9. A flexible member 10, a chain in the present instance, passes over the pulley, and one end of the chain is secured to and winds upon a reel 11. The shaft 12 of this reel is provided with a crank 13 for rotating the same, and the shaft is journaled in the standard 1 and in an extension bracket 14 from one of the plates 3, the said plate being extended, as shown, to form a bearing at the outer end of the shaft.

A ratchet wheel 15 is rigid with the inner end of the shaft and reel, and this ratchet wheel is engaged by a click or pawl 16 which is normally spring pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel. The pawl is for the prevention of retrograde movement of the shaft when released, with the weight of the rack body on the chain. A hook 17 is connected with the opposite end of the chain from the reel, and this hook is adapted to engage the end of the rack body as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired, for instance, to place a rack 18 upon the running gear of a wagon, the standard is wheeled up into place at the end of the rack, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The device is light and easily handled and when it is in place the wheel is locked from rotation by the pin 8. The hook 17 is engaged with the end of the rack at the center thereof, and the crank is turned to rotate the reel to wind up the chain, and the rack will be lifted into the position of Fig. 2. With the rack so held, the pin 8 is withdrawn, and the end of the rack is swung around over the running gear of the wagon, the standard rolling on the wheel 2. The standard is now moved to the opposite end of the rack or body and the operation is repeated. To remove the rack or body the above described operation is reversed.

In order to steady the rack during the movement to or from the wagon, guy rods 19 are pivotally connected with the standard at the opposite sides thereof, and above the reel, and each of these guy rods is provided at its outer end with a hook. After the rack has been lifted, the hooks of the guy rods are engaged with the opposite sides of the rack at the lifted end, and the engagement of the rods will prevent the swinging of the rack during the movement of the standard with the end of the rack toward the Wagon.- When the rack is lowered, the guy rods will be automatically released The double hook shown in Fig. 7 is more especially adapted for the lifting of bodies of Wagons, The guy rods 19 are too long to be conveniently used with wagon bodies, for they are of a length to engage the sides of a rack. The double hook is formed from a metal rod of suitable cross section, and comprises a body 21 having at the center thereof an eye 22 for engagement by the hook 17. Each end of the body is bent laterally in the same direction, as shown at 23, and hooked, as shown at 24, the hooks eX- tending in the same direction from the plane of the body and angle portions 23. The hooks 24L engage beneath the end of the body when the double hook is used, and it will be obvious that the body cannot swing when so held. In order to hold the guy rods 19 out of the Way when they are not in use, spring clips 25 are secured to the top of the standard at opposite sides thereof, and at the faces to. which the guys are connected, and when not in use the guy rods may be swung upwardly and engaged beneath the clips to hold them in this inoperative position.

It will. be noticed that the guide rods 19 are connected. to the standard by screw eyes. These eyes may be detached and connected with the standard at. any point desired to secure adjustment in length.

A device: of the character specified, comprising a standard, a wheel journaled at the lower end of the standard, a reel. journaled on the standard intermediate the ends thereof, a pulley at the top of the standard, a flexible member passing over the pulley and. winding at one end on the reel, the other, end having. a hook for the purpose specified-I, means for preventing. reverse rotation of the reel, releasable means for preventing rotation of the Wheel, guyrods pivoted to the opposite sides of the standard above the reel and having hooks at their outer ends, and spring clips at the topof the standard for engagement bythe guy rods to hold them in inoperative position.

FRANK J. LovER1No'..

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

